Public transit supporters in Los Angeles County are excited about Assemblyman Mike Feuer’s proposal to fast-track the transit, and freeway, projects made possible by Measure R by extending the tax past its 2039 expiration date. Feuer, who carried Measure R through Sacramento, before helping win county voter support for R in 2008, realizes that Washington and Sacramento may not be ready or able to offer the loans needed to make 30/10 (America Fast Forward) happen.

BART, the Bay Area’s ever expanding regional transit system, is on track to bring passengers to the Silicon Valley by 2016 following the Federal Transit Administration’s recommendation yesterday that $900 million in funding be made available for a further extension of BART. The new money would add two stations and extend the tracks 10 miles through Milpitas and down to the northern outskirts of San Jose. Congress must approve the plan, but with the Silicon Valley still the country’s leading economic and intellectual property engine backers say that will happen. The added funds will allow construction on the $2.3-billion project to begin in the spring.

In August. in advance of a powerful tropical storm, New York shuttered its entire subway system for the first since its opening in 1904. This week, lightning stuck again when New York shut down service on the city’s workhorse Lexington Avenue train lines from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for overdue repairs on the tracks. For late night and early morning commuters and partygoers this means finding alternative routes between midtown Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn for four nights in an effort by the transit agency to make up for years of deferred maintenance and repairs.

Washington Metro customers are grumbling about planned fare increases intended to help fill a $116-million shortfall in Metro’s $1.6 billion budget and would also let the agency hire an additional 1,000 workers. The unpopular fare hikes would impact almost all areas, including bus and rail fares, parking rates and the transit agency’s service for the disabled.

In the WaPo article, a person says “People are poor. We’re struggling…I haven’t had a raise in three years, so why should I pay more?”

If DC Metro is increasing their fares, the should also at the same extend their Reduced Fare Program (currently only for seniors and the disabled) to include lower income families to help those in need.